How to execute a function out of an included class - c++

Question

I got two classes separated in four files. The main class includes a sub class and needs to execute functions of it (not shown in the minimal example code). What I want to do is to execute a function of the main class in the scope of the subclass.
I think some ideas would be to inherit the functions in the sub class but I could not figure out how to do this.
MainClass.cpp
#include "MainClass.hpp"
void MainClass::mainCallback() {
std::cout << "[mainCallback] executed" << std::endl;
}
void MainClass::subCallback() {
std::cout << "[subCallback] executed" << std::endl;
}
int main() {
MainClass mainClass;
mainClass.mainCallback();
SubClass subClass;
subClass.activateSubClass();
return 0;
}
MainClass.hpp
#pragma once
#include "SubClass.hpp"
#include <iostream>
class MainClass{
public:
void mainCallback();
void subCallback();
};
SubClass.cpp
#include "SubClass.hpp"
void SubClass::activateSubClass(){
mainClass.subCallback(); //TODO call this function from this scope
}
SubClass.hpp
#pragma once
class SubClass{
public:
void activateSubClass();
};
The error in SubClass.cpp is of course:
error: use of undeclared identifier 'mainClass'

Answer 1

Just subclass the subclass:
class SubClass: public MainClass {
public:
void activateSubClass();
};
This (public) way the SubClass makes all methods of MainClass callable in SubClass instances. You could also private inherit. That way only activateSubClass() 'ld be callable.
In activateSubClass you can call directly the methods of the parent class:
void SubClass::activateSubClass(){
mainClass.subCallback(); //TODO call this function from this scope
}
Don't forget to include MainClass.hpp in SubClass.hpp

Answer 2

You try to call a MainClass.subCallback() without having an instance of MainClass. According to me, this is the typical use case for static methods.
Then, I think you make your #include directives the wrong way. Indeed, MainClass does not seem to need to know SubClass but the opposite is true. I think it is better to include MainClass.hpp in SubClass.hpp. This will solve your circle dependencies problem.And you can write your main() function in another file.
EDIT: Example
MainClass.hpp:
#pragma once
class MainClass
{
public:
void mainCallback();
static void subCallback(); // mak it static to be able to call it without an instance of the class
};
MainClass.cpp:
#include "MainClass.hpp"
#include <iostream>
void MainClass::mainCallback()
{
std::cout << "[mainCallback] executed" << std::endl;
}
void MainClass::subCallback()
{
std::cout << "[subCallback] executed" << std::endl;
}
SubClass.hpp:
#pragma once
class SubClass
{
public:
void activateSubClass();
};
SubClass.cpp:
#include "SubClass.hpp"
#include "MainClass.hpp" // MainClass inclusion
void Suclass::activateSubClass()
{
MainClass::subCallback(); // Call of the static method
}
main.cpp:
#include "MainClass.hpp"
#include "SubClass.hpp"
int main()
{
MainClass mc;
mc.mainCallback();
SubClass sc;
sc.activateSubClass(); // Will call MainClass::subCallback()
return 0;
}
I hope it can help you.